The William Byrd Terriers returned to Alleghany Wednesday afternoon for the Blue Ridge District boys tennis team finals.  Alleghany awaited the Terriers after dispatching Lord Botetourt in the semifinals.  A match between the #1 seeded Terriers and the #2 seeded Mountaineers would decide the Blue Ridge District Tournament Champion.  In the end, the Terriers would claim the tournament title by a 5-1 margin.

Bryce Martin at #5 singles set the early pace by winning 6-0; 6-1 to score Byrd's first point.  Brennan Escobar at #1 singles and Joseph Davis at #2 singles followed quickly with straight set victories to push Byrd's lead to 3-0.  Escobar, Davis, and Martin each finished the regular season undefeated in district play, so the Terriers were following a familiar script.  Will Trent at #6 singles turned in another solid Terrier victory, and the match stood at 4-0 Byrd.  However, the strength of the Alleghany team - #3 Ethan Smith and #4 Bryan Bess - stood in the way of a Byrd sweep. 

Byrd 's Jim Fisher (#3) won the first set 6-3 over Smith, but Smith came right back to take the second 6-2.  Alleghany's Bryan Bess won the first set 7-5 over Byrd's #4, Trevor Perdue, but Perdue fought back to take the second 6-4.  Deadlocked, all four players started the third set tentatively, playing not to lose.  It was clear that the player who took command and played aggressively would win.  That player was Byrd's Trevor Perdue at #4.  His relentless attack at the net wore down Alleghany's Bess and produced a 6-3 third set victory - giving Byrd the District Tournament Championship to match their regular season title.  Smith edged Fisher 6-3 in the third for Alleghany's lone point.

Sophomore Bryce Martin, in his first year of full-time play, was the team's top point scorer, and first year players Will Trent and Blaine Mills more than held their own.  But in the end, as they have throughout the district season, Brennan Escobar, Joseph Davis, Trevor Perdue, and Jim Fisher provided a consistency of effort that was the foundation for an undefeated season.   

Singles

#1     Brennan Escobar (WB) d. Seth Thompson (A)     6-3; 6-2
#2     Joseph Davis (WB) d. Scott Wolfe (A)     6-2; 6-2
#3     Ethan Smith (A) d. Jim Fisher (WB)     3-6; 6-2; 6-3
#4     Trevor Perdue (WB) d. Bryan Bess (A)     5-7; 6-4; 6-3
#5     Bryce Martin (WB) d. Tyler Crosier (A)     6-0; 6-1
#6     Will Trent (WB) d. T. J. Deisher (A)     6-2; 7-5

Doubles not played